You Can't Stay Home Friday Evening!

Of the many options, two are in the Old Northside:

Join more than a dozen Indiana Artisan food and art artisans on 6 to 9 p.m. December 2, 2011, for First Friday at Indiana Landmarks Center. Great food, wine and art will be available in the former Central Avenue United Methodist Church building, 1201 North Central Avenue, Indianapolis.

Or (and?) meander over to the Harrison Center, 1505 North Delaware, Indianapolis, between 6 and 10 p.m. December 2, 2011, an artist reception and open studio night:

In the Harrison Gallery and Hank & Dolly's Gallery - color-themed group show. In the City Gallery - People for Urban Progress. In Gallery No. 2 - Indy Refugee Night. In the Gallery Annex - Ryan Abegglen. In the Underground - Furniture Show by Herron students and recent grads.

Carmel Roundabouts Get Noticed by the Brits

"I mean, it's round, how difficult can it be?"

That's a quote from a hotel desk clerk in a piece about Carmel's roundabouts in the November 19-25, 2011, issue of the Economist, a weekly from London, England.

The magazine says that a "recent out-of-towner was so terrified by the strange formations that he preferred to travel by taxi". (Taxis? Really? In Carmel?)

"What goes around" is a discussion of the Indiana town's use of the typical British intersection, noting that the first one was built in Carmel in 1997. According to the Economist, the Hamilton County 'burb has more than 70 of the estimated 3000 roundabouts in the United States.

(Photo by Lars Sundstrom)

Holiday Indiana Author Fair

Check out some 75 Indiana authors and their latest books at the Ninth Annual Holiday Author Fair at the Indiana History Center, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis.

It all takes place from noon to 4 p.m. December 3.

Several author presentations are scheduled, including Chef Daniel Orr, who'll discuss Paradise Kitchen (all about Caribbean cooking).

A sampling of other authors and titles: Evie Finds Her Family Tree (Ashley Ransburg), An Endless Sky (Joyce Brinkman and Norbert Krapf), Hoosier Beer (Bob Ostrander and Derrick Morris), Scavengers (Dick Cady) and Changing Planet, Changing Health (Dan Ferber (in photo, above left) and Paul R. Epstein).

If you buy your books on site, members of the Butler University Chorale will gift wrap 'em for you.

The Cherub Returns (Whew!)

Let's let Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., tell the story:

It was 1946. World War II was over and thousands returned home from military service. Among them, Virginia Holmes--a prize-winning commercial artist--came back to Indianapolis and began her job in the advertising department at L.S. Ayres, a Downtown department store. When it came time to compose the 1946 holiday catalog, merchandise was still in short supply, so Holmes created whimsical cherubs to fill the somewhat empty pages. The cherubs captured hearts and began an Indianapolis holiday tradition that continues today.

Customer response to the cherubs was so great, Ayres perpetuated their appearance in its 1947 holiday advertising. It was Ayres’ 75th Anniversary, and that called for a special addition to their holiday celebration plans. Ayres commissioned nationally recognized Indianapolis sculptor and Herron School of Art instructor David Rubins to create a bronze cherub for the store’s landmark clock, located on the outside of their building on the corner of Washington and Meridian streets.

As the story is told, the whimsical Cherub mysteriously appeared atop the clock on Thanksgiving Eve 1947 to keep a watchful eye on the holiday shoppers until Santa took over on Christmas Eve. In the 64 years since, thousands have had the pleasure of seeing the Cherub perched atop the famous clock each holiday season.

The May Department Store Co. purchased L.S. Ayres in 1986 and in 1992, moved the Cherub to its headquarters in St. Louis. There was tremendous public outcry when the Cherub did not appear that holiday season. So May donated the Cherub to the City of Indianapolis and in 1994 Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. became the Cherub’s legal guardian.

So keep an eye out…Thanksgiving is Thursday!

(Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.)

Rain-Drenched Roadways, Grounded Flights for Thanksgiving Travel

By Alex Sosnowski
Senior Expert Meteorologist for AccuWeather.com

State College, Pa. -- 21 November 2011 -- AccuWeather reports an area of heavy rain will produce urban flooding, drenched roadways and grounded flights for Thanksgiving travelers into Wednesday from Arkansas to Ohio to Massachusetts.

A broad area of 1- to 2-inch rainfall is in store from the South Central states and part of the lower Mississippi Valley northward through the Tennessee and Ohio valleys to the central Appalachians, the coastal mid-Atlantic and southern New England prior to Thanksgiving.

Locally heavier amounts near 3 inches are possible within this zone.

Cities impacted by heavy rain and the risk of a period of urban flooding include Little Rock, Ark., St. Louis, Nashville, Tenn., Indianapolis, Louisville, Ky., Cincinnati, Morgantown, W.Va., Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Newark, N.J., New York City, Hartford, Conn., Providence, R.I. and Boston.

In some cases, such as in parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, there is potential for enough rain in a short period of time to cause flash and small stream flooding.

Motorists traveling through the region spanning I-40 and I-70 in the Midwest through Tuesday and I-80, I-90 and I-95 in the Northeast Tuesday night into Wednesday are urged to have patience, pay attention to the road and exercise caution when venturing on vehicle-clogged, rain-drenched roadways.

Stopping distance greatly increases on wet roadways, and poor visibility from heavy rain, fog and blowing spray increases reaction time.

The rain will exit most of the Midwest late Tuesday night, but will not clear all of the East until Wednesday afternoon and evening. The worst of the rain should depart the I-95 mid-Atlantic during the midday hours Wednesday.

The rain, areas of fog and associated low cloud ceilings will put added pressure on airlines dealing with the heavy volume of holiday traffic.

Flight delays are likely during part of the period through Wednesday for parts of the South, Midwest and Northeast.

Thunderstorms will also play a role in the intensity of the rain and travel delays from Texas to the coastal mid-Atlantic. The storms will focus rainfall over a short period, elevating the flash flooding potential at the local level, and lowering visibility to dangerous levels for those traveling at highway speeds.

Fairgrounds Fun

There are two reasons to head to the Indiana State Fairgrounds this weekend.

First (of course) is the 35th anniversary edition of the International Festival, with all the ethnic food, entertainment and cultural displays you can imagine (yes: Indy has a diverse cultural heritage, and it's all on display today and tomorrow in the West Pavilion -- the video shows the Parade of Nations).

Second, there are the cats. You know, those cute kids-in-fur-coats who are good at chasing the mice out of your house. The Cat Fanciers' Association is holding its annual show in the South Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Read all about its special event: the feline agility competition in The New York Times. (Yeah, The Indianapolis Star missed yet another local story.)

For one $3 "facility access fee", you can park at the fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street, to see both events. Try the cats first ($6 for adults) and then finish up at the International Festival ($10 for adults) where you can assemble a fabulous feast from the various food booths and settle down (perhaps with a glass of wine or beer) to watch some more great entertainment.

(Photo courtesy of Indy's International Festival)

Indy's International Festival

The 35th Anniversary International Festival takes place in the West Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1200 East 38th Street, Indianapolis, 18-20 November.

Hosted by the all-volunteer Nationalities Council of Indiana, the 2011 festival showcases the state’s ethnic diversity, celebrates our unique ethnic traditions, and encourages cultural exchange.

Hours are 2 to 9 p.m. 18 November, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 19 November and noon to 6 p.m. 20 November. Tickets at the door are $10 for adults and $6 for children.

(There are special hours for student groups on 17 and 18 November.)

Featured are exhibits from the 50+ ethnic groups represented in Central Indiana. Highlights of the festival include authentic foods from 20+ ethnic vendors; continuous ethnic music and dance by local and national performing groups; Culture Booths hosted by volunteers often in traditional dress; artisans demonstrating unique cultural crafts; a Naturalization Ceremony to welcome the newest Americans, and an International Marketplace offering gifts from around the world.

Follow the festival on Facebook or find out more on the festival website.

(Photo courtesy of Indy's International Festival)

DST Ending for 2011

Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed tomorrow night.

Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday.

Native American Heritage Month

Did you know November is Native American Heritage Month?

Of course there are a wealth of events happening at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art (see the schedule here).

But, you can also check out the following events taking place at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis:

Native American Beading Workshop: A Cultural Art Form, noon-2 p.m. 9 November in CE148

Reel Injun-On the Trail of the Hollywood Injun (part of the Multicultural Film & Discuss Series, 6-8 p.m. 9 November in Lilly Auditorium

Universe is Flux

John Teramoto, curator of Asian art at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, will talk about the work of Tawara Yūsaku at 7 p.m. 10 November in the IMA's Toby Theater, 4000 North Michigan Road, Indianapolis.

The first large-scale exhibition of 77 works by the contemporary Japanese artist (mostly ink on paper) opens the next day, and will be on display through at the IMA through 1 April 2012.

Tawara Yūsaku (1932-2004) was a contemporary Japanese artist who created unique, amazingly energized images based on his belief that all existence is composed of the impermanent bunching together of vibrating waves of energy—what he termed “hadō” (ha-doh; literally wave-movement). Working primarily in ink on paper and strongly influenced by Buddhist thought, Tawara’s paintings are constructed from countless strokes and dots, imparting to the works an intensity of content that fills them with monumental energy.

(Image, courtesy of IMA: Tawara Yūsaku, Japanese, (1932-2004), Chikau (I Vow), 12.6-6, 1993, ink on paper; 10 5/8 x 8 5/8 in. Collection of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Martha Delzell Memorial Fund)

Costumerie

"Costumerie", new paintings by Harrison Center studio artist and curator, Kyle Ragsdale, will be premiered Friday (4 November) during a 6 to 9 p.m. reception in the center, 1505 North Delaware, Indianapolis.

In the Harrison Gallery - Ragsdale's new work explores recently rediscovered themes left behind in 20 year old drawings. Many are large and epic, like scenes from an opera or lavish period movie, the subjects clad in costumes from a variety of eras. Help to set the scene and come in costume. The work hangs through 25 November.

In Gallery No. 2 - American Senior Communities presents Memories in the Making art show and sale to benefit the Alzheimer's Association.

In the City Gallery - Check out new work by St. Clair Place resident and HCA studio artist, Kathryn Dart.

In Hank & Dolly's Gallery - Continuous, a Gallery Show - illustrations by Herron School of Art + Design students.